Peter Masterson

Peter Masterson was an American contractor, Democratic New York City alderman, and New York state representative who was the founder and foreman of Engine No. 33, nicknamed "the Black Joke" after the War of 1812. An Irish immigrant, Masterson became involved in Democratic politics while working as a firefighter, whose service was a breeding ground for Tammany Hall allies. Masterson was rivals with William M. Tweed's Engine No. 6, and their companies would often brawl at the scene of a fire in order to gain city funding for their firefighting efforts; sometimes, the fire would burn out as the companies brawled, and they would then loot the buildings. In 1863, Masterson was among those drafted into the Union Army during the American Civil War, which led to him and his brothers William and John leading a group of rioters down to the Ninth District Provost Marshal's Office in July 1863 during the New York draft riots.